Intensifying the ground invasion, Israeli forces attacked Hamas gunmen in the vast tunnel network under Gaza City. Aimed at destroying Hamas and the tunnels used by the militants mainly as a hide out and to transport weapons, forces struck 300 targets on Tuesday.
"Over the last day, combined IDF combat forces struck approximately 300 targets, including anti-tank missile and rocket launch posts below shafts, as well as military compounds inside underground tunnels belonging to the Hamas terrorist organisation," the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said in a statement.
To the calls of ceasefire, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there will not be any “halting ceasefires”. It is believed that many hostages are being held in the tunnels.
In the surprise attack by Hamas on October 7, around 1,400 people were killed.
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To the attacks of Israeli troops, IDF in its statement added militants responded with anti-tank missiles and machine gun fire.
"The soldiers killed terrorists and directed air forces to real-time strikes on targets and terror infrastructure," the IDF said.
Air raid sirens went off in the area of the Israeli Red Sea city of Eilat on Tuesday and Israel's military said it gun downed an approaching "aerial target". "There was no threat or risk to civilians," it added.
On Monday, the Israeli forces targeted Gaza’s main north-south road and attacked Gaza city from two directions. IDF also said it freed a captured Israeli soldier, Ori Megidish, from Hamas.
Meanwhile, Israel has revised the number of hostages captured by Hamas to 240 on Tuesday. Israel defence spokesperson Daniel Hagari said "So far, families of 240 hostages have received notification. The number rose to 240 because our identification – as I’ve explained, some of the people are not citizens of Israel, so identification is more complicated. It takes time."
The al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's armed wing, said militants clashed early on Tuesday with Israeli forces "invading the southern Gaza axis." Four vehicles were targeted with al-Yassin 105 missiles, it added.
Reportedly, militants also targeted two Israeli tanks and bulldozers in the northwest Gaza, al-Qassam said.
Amid the strikes, WHO warned a "public health catastrophe" was imminent in Gaza amid overcrowding, mass displacement and damage to water and sanitation infrastructure.
IDF targets house of Hamas leader in West Bank
The Israeli forces demolished West Bank house of Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri, the exiled commander of Hamas forces, reported Reuters.
Arouri, a veteran Hamas leader who has spent 17 years in Israeli jails, is deputy to the Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, and among a group of leaders identified by Israelis.
"The IDF and Shin Bet are working against the terrorist organization Hamas throughout Judea and Samaria; 38 wanted persons were arrested and weapons were confiscated. The security forces tonight destroyed the house of Salah Arori, the deputy head of the political bureau and responsible for the activities of the terrorist organization Hamas in Judea and Samaria," IDF said in a message.